Comprehensive Description

Biology/Natural History: Often the most abundant barnacle in the upper half of the intertidal zone, and the most nearly ubiquitous barnacle species on the Pacific coast. It can obtain oxygen both from the air and underwater. Barnacles are hermaphrodites which fertilize one another internally by means of a long penis. The eggs are brooded by the parent, and released as nauplius larvae. Up to 6 broods of 1000-30,000 young may be produced per year from this species. After 5 molts the larva becomes a nonfeeding cypris with 6 pairs of legs. The cypris attaches itself to a substrate by an antennal gland and metamorphoses into the adult form. Cyprids avoid rocks which Nucella lamellosa, an important predator, has recently crawled across, and also rocks with the red alga Petrocelis middendorffii. Adult size is reached in 2 years and lifespan is about 10 years, Barnacle molts are frequently seen debris in marine habitats. Predators include oysterdrill snails such as Nucella lamellosa, the ribbed limpet Lottia digitalis, seastars such as Pisaster ochraceous, Pycnopodia helianthoides, Evasterias troschelii, and Leptasterias hexactis, goldeneye ducks, gulls, and even the nemertean worm Emplectonema gracile and the barnacle nudibranch Onchidoris bilamellata. Juvenile rockfish feed on the larvae swimming through kelp beds. Competitors include Semibalanus cariosus and the mussels Mytilus trossulus and M. californiensis, to the shells of which it often attaches. In many areas of the upper intertidal juveniles of this species compete with Chthamalus dalli juveniles by pushing them off the rock. Chthamalus is usually common only in the zone above where Balanus glandula thrives. Less common in estuaries. While it has no eyes, this species is sensitive to light and will rapidly withdraw if a shadow passes over it. Balanus glandula has recently become established in Japan and in Argentina. In Japan it is directly competing with B. albicostatus. The morphology of the feeding legs and penis of this species is highly plastic. Individuals transplanted to high flow areas grew legs which were 50% shorter and 25% wider than those in low flow and their penises were 25% shorter and 50% wider. These differences were not seen between barnacles in high-density vs low-density sites, even though barnacles can only breed with individuals that they can reach with their penis.